Manchester

Manchester's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, ethnicity and religion.

The population passed half a million

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Manchester increased by 28%, from just under 393,000 to 503,000.

The addition of about 110,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the North West and was the second fastest-growing across England.

In 2011, Manchester was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North West's most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Manchester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Manchester decreased by two years, from 31 to 29 years.

This area had the lowest average age in the North West and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 45,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 25% of people in Manchester are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Manchester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 11% to 6.8%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 14 (7.1%) in Manchester said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 65% to 80%.

The largest decrease occurred in Barnsley (from 14% to 8.4%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Manchester decreased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Manchester, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Manchester

The number of people in Manchester from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 320,000 in 2001 to about 340,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 81% to 67%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Manchester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 41,000 in 2001 to about 86,000 in 2011 (from 10% to 17%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 18,000 to about 43,000 (from 4.5% to 8.6%).

About 23,000 people (3.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 13,000 in 2001 (4.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Manchester decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Manchester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Manchester

The number of people in Manchester that described themselves as Christian remained close to 250,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 62% to 49%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Manchester that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 63,000 in 2001 to just under 130,000 in 2011 (from 16% to 25%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 36,000 to just over 79,000 (from 9.1% to 16%).

About 35,000 people (9.7%) did not state their religion, down from about 38,000 in 2001 (6.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Manchester decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Manchester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Manchester that rented privately increased from 16% to 28% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (32%) households lived in social housing, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage of Manchester households that owner their home decreased from 42% to 38%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. As a result, this area had the region’s highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Blackpool had the region's next highest proportion of privately rented homes (26%), while the proportion was 19% in Salford.

Private renting in Manchester increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of households in Manchester, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links